# Lesley Griffiths

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Welsh politician (born 1960)

For the Labour peer, see [Leslie Griffiths](/source/Leslie_Griffiths). For the American journalist, see [Leslie Griffith](/source/Leslie_Griffith).

Lesley Griffiths Official portrait, 2024 Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice In office 21 March 2024 – 16 July 2024 First Minister Vaughan Gething Preceded by Jane Hutt Succeeded by Jane Hutt Trefnydd of the Senedd In office 13 May 2021 – 21 March 2024 First Minister Mark Drakeford Preceded by Rebecca Evans Succeeded by Jane Hutt Minister for North Wales In office 13 May 2021 – 20 March 2024 First Minister Mark Drakeford Preceded by Ken Skates Succeeded by Ken Skates Minister for Rural Affairs[a] In office 19 May 2016 – 21 March 2024 First Minister Carwyn Jones Mark Drakeford Preceded by Carl Sargeant Succeeded by Huw Irranca-Davies Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty In office 11 September 2014[1] – 19 May 2016 First Minister Carwyn Jones Preceded by Jeffrey Cuthbert Succeeded by Carl Sargeant Minister for Local Government and Government Business In office 14 March 2013[2] – 11 September 2014 First Minister Carwyn Jones Preceded by Carl Sargeant Succeeded by Leighton Andrews (Public Services) Jane Hutt (Government Business) Minister for Health and Social Services In office 11 May 2011 – 14 March 2013 First Minister Carwyn Jones Preceded by Edwina Hart Succeeded by Mark Drakeford Member of the Senedd for Wrexham In office 3 May 2007 – 7 April 2026 Preceded by John Marek Succeeded by Seat abolished Majority 1,350 (6.0%) Personal details Born 1960 (age 65–66) Party Welsh Labour Occupation Political Advisor Website Lesley Griffiths

**Susan Lesley Griffiths** (born 1960) is a [Welsh Labour](/source/Welsh_Labour)[3] politician who was [Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice](/source/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Culture_and_Social_Justice) from March to July 2024.[4][5] She previously served as [Trefnydd of the Senedd](/source/Trefnydd_of_the_Senedd) and [Minister for North Wales](/source/Minister_for_North_Wales) from 2021 to 2024, and [Minister for Rural Affairs](/source/Minister_for_Rural_Affairs_(Wales)) from 2016 to 2024. She worked as a secretary to [John Marek](/source/John_Marek_(politician)) and the constituency assistant to [Ian Lucas](/source/Ian_Lucas), successive [Members of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament) for [Wrexham](/source/Wrexham_(UK_Parliament_constituency)), and was elected to the [Senedd](/source/Senedd) from the [Wrexham](/source/Wrexham_(Senedd_constituency)) constituency in 2007. She has held a number of cabinet positions in the [Welsh Government](/source/Welsh_Government). In December 2009 she was appointed Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills.[6]

In 2011, she was appointed Minister for Health and Social Services.[7] She was then appointed Minister for Local Government and Government Business in March 2013.[6] In September 2014 she was appointed Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty.[8] Following the [2016 election](/source/2016_National_Assembly_for_Wales_election), she was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs following her own re-election.[6] She retained her post in a Welsh Government Cabinet reshuffle in November 2017, but with a revised portfolio of Energy, Planning, and Rural Affairs[9] with [Hannah Blythyn](/source/Hannah_Blythyn) becoming her Deputy Minister for the Environment.

Griffiths stood down from the Senedd at the [2026 Senedd election](/source/2026_Senedd_election).[10]

## 2003 campaign

Griffiths was a secretary to [John Marek](/source/John_Marek), who represented [Wrexham](/source/Wrexham_(Senedd_constituency)) as a Labour member of the Welsh Assembly. However, in 2003 Marek was de-selected by the local party and Griffiths was selected in his place. There followed a Labour Party inquiry, in which Marek was first contacted by telephone half an hour before the result was announced, and his de-selection was upheld. Marek then decided to fight to retain his seat as an [Independent](/source/Independent_(politician)),[11] and Griffiths struggled during the campaign; an early poll showed Marek beating her by 40% to 29%.[12] In the event, on polling day Marek beat Griffiths by 973 votes.

## Subsequent elections

Having been a supporter of [Wrexham Football Club](/source/Wrexham_A.F.C.), Griffiths was elected to the board of the Wrexham Supporters Trust. In December 2005 she was selected again as Labour candidate for the Wrexham constituency for the 2007 Assembly elections. She benefited from high-profile support as the party saw an opportunity to recapture the seat; John Marek appealed to the large [Polish](/source/Polish_people) immigrant population by translating his election material into [Polish](/source/Polish_language).[13] However, Griffiths increased her numerical vote while Marek's vote fell, and she won the seat by 1,250.

In [2011](/source/2011_National_Assembly_for_Wales_election), Griffiths faced Marek for a third time, though by now Marek had joined the [Conservatives](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)). Both of them saw increases in their votes compared to 2007, but Griffiths held the seat with an increased majority of 3,337.[14] Griffiths was re-selected to defend her seat at the [2016 election](/source/2016_National_Assembly_for_Wales_election),[15] and retained it with a reduced majority of 1,325 over the Conservative candidate.[16]

## Ministerial responsibility

Griffiths was appointed Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills in December 2009.[17] After the 2011 election, she was promoted to the Minister for Health and Social Services, a post she held until March 2013 when she was appointed Minister for Local Government and Government Business. In September 2014 she was appointed Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty.[8] She was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs following re-election in May 2016,[6] before being appointed Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning, and Rural Affairs in November 2017. She became Minister for Environment, Energy, and Rural Affairs in the [First Drakeford government](/source/First_Drakeford_government)[18] in December 2018 and then [Minister for Rural Affairs](/source/Minister_for_Rural_Affairs_(Wales)) and [North Wales](/source/Minister_for_North_Wales), and [Trefnydd](/source/Trefnydd_of_the_Senedd) in May 2021.[19] In March 2024, Griffiths was appointed [Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice](/source/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Culture_and_Social_Justice) in the [Gething government](/source/Gething_government).[4]

In October 2018 Griffiths used her ministerial office to overturn the decision of a [planning inspector](/source/Planning_Inspectorate) to refuse a proposed [wind farm](/source/Wind_farm) near [Llandrindod Wells](/source/Llandrindod_Wells). In November the [Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales](/source/Campaign_for_the_Protection_of_Rural_Wales) announced that it was challenging this in the [High Court](/source/High_Court_of_Justice).[20]

In July 2024, Griffiths resigned from the Welsh Cabinet, alongside three other cabinet members, from [First Minister](/source/First_Minister_of_Wales) [Vaughan Gething](/source/Vaughan_Gething)'s [government](/source/Gething_government), prompting Gething's [subsequent resignation as First Minister](/source/2024_Welsh_government_crisis).[21][22]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Leighton Andrews rejoins cabinet in reshuffle"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-29156951). *BBC News*. 11 September 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Welsh government reshuffle: Mark Drakeford new health minister"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-21789790). *BBC News*. 14 March 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Member Profile"](https://senedd.wales/en/memhome/Pages/MemberProfile.aspx?mid=154). *Welsh Parliament*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_5-1) Mosalski, Ruth (21 March 2024). ["Vaughan Gething confirms new-look Welsh Government cabinet"](https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/live-updates-vaughan-gething-confirms-28859505). *Wales Online*. Retrieved 22 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Four members of Welsh government quit, calling for First Minister Vaughan Gething to resign"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cleyl8ln66et). *BBC News*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_7-3) ["Lesley Griffiths MS: Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs"](http://gov.wales/about/cabinet/cabinetm/lesley-griffiths?lang=en). Gov.Wales. Retrieved 11 May 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Welsh Government | "New Team Delivers for Wales""](https://web.archive.org/web/20110522112834/http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/firstminister/2011/cabinet/?lang=en). Archived from [the original](http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/firstminister/2011/cabinet/?lang%3Den) on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_9-1) ["Welsh Government | Lesley Griffiths AM"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120822202552/http://wales.gov.uk/about/cabinet/cabinetm/lesleygriffiths?lang=en). Archived from [the original](http://wales.gov.uk/about/cabinet/cabinetm/lesleygriffiths?lang%3Den) on 22 August 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Welsh Government | Written Statement – Ministerial changes"](http://gov.wales/about/cabinet/cabinetstatements/2017/ministerialchanges/?lang=en). *gov.wales*. Retrieved 13 November 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Moules, James; Green, Daniel (20 October 2025). ["Who are the Labour Senedd members who are standing down at next election?"](https://labourlist.org/2025/10/senedd-election-2026-labour-ms-standing-down/). *LabourList*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Marek_Independent_12-0)** Martin Shipton, "Marek likely to stand as independent", *Western Mail*, 12 March 2003.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2003_poll_13-0)** Kirsty Buchanan, "Marek beating Labour", *Western Mail*, 11 April 2003.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Marek_Polish_14-0)** Allegra Stratton, "'Glosuj na mnie!'", *New Statesman*, 30 April 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["BBC News – Election 2011"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/election2011/constituency/html/26703.stm). *BBC News*. Retrieved 16 February 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Starting Gun Fired For Wrexham's National Assembly For Wales Election 2016"](http://www.wrexham.com/news/starting-gun-fired-for-wrexhams-national-assembly-for-wales-election-2016-97116.html). *wrexham.com*. Retrieved 16 February 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Wrexham – Welsh Assembly constituency – Election 2016"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/wales-constituencies/W09000008). *BBC News*. Retrieved 13 November 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WAG_1_18-0)** ["Welsh Assembly Government:Lesley Griffiths AM"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101214124841/http://wales.gov.uk/about/cabinet/deputyministers/lesleygriffiths?lang=en). *Welsh Assembly Government website*. [Welsh Assembly Government](/source/Welsh_Assembly_Government). 2010. Archived from [the original](http://wales.gov.uk/about/cabinet/deputyministers/lesleygriffiths?lang=en) on 14 December 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["First Minister announces new cabinet | GOV.WALES"](https://www.gov.wales/first-minister-announces-new-cabinet). *www.gov.wales*. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Written Statement: Cabinet appointments to the new Welsh Government (13 May 2021) | GOV.WALES"](https://www.gov.wales/written-statement-cabinet-appointments-new-welsh-government). *www.gov.wales*. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Josie Le Vay, [Llandrindod Wells: CPRW launch High Court bid to challenge Lesley Griffiths AM's Hendy Wind Farm decision](https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/17267000.llandrindod-wells-cprw-launch-high-court-bid-to-challenge-lesley-griffiths-ams-hendy-wind-farm-decision/) in Powys County Times dated 30 November 2018, accessed 1 December 2018

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Grierson, Jamie (16 July 2024). ["Vaughan Gething's leadership in peril as four Welsh ministers resign"](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/16/vaughan-gething-leadership-in-peril-as-four-welsh-ministers-resign). *The Guardian*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 16 July 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Mercer, Rosie; Deans, David (16 July 2024). ["Who is Vaughan Gething, the outgoing first minister of Wales?"](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw0y7x157nlo). *BBC News*. BBC. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240716104317/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw0y7x157nlo) from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs from May 2016 to November 2017; Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning, and Rural Affairs from November 2017 to December 2018; Minister for Environment, Energy, and Rural Affairs from December 2018 to May 2021; Minister for Rural Affairs from May 2021 to March 2024

## External links

- [Personal website](http://www.lesleygriffiths.org/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160719075340/http://www.lesleygriffiths.org/) 19 July 2016 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

## Offices held

Senedd Preceded by John Marek Member of the Senedd for Wrexham 2007–2026 Succeeded by Constituency abolished Political offices Preceded by John Griffiths Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills 2009–2011 Succeeded by Jeff Cuthbert Preceded by Edwina Hart Minister for Health and Social Services 2011–2013 Succeeded by Mark Drakeford New post Minister for Communities 2013–2016 Succeeded by Carl Sargeant New post Minister for Rural Affairs 2016–present Incumbent Previous: Ken Skates Minister for North Wales 2021–present Incumbent

v t e Second Drakeford government (2021–2024) Cabinet members Rt Hon Mark Drakeford (First Minister) Rebecca Evans (Finance) (Local Government) Eluned Morgan (Minister for Health and Social Services) Vaughan Gething (Economy) Lesley Griffiths (Rural Affairs and North Wales) (Trefnydd) Jane Hutt (Social Justice) (Chief Whip) Julie James (Climate Change) Jeremy Miles (Education & Welsh Language) Mick Antoniw (Counsel General) (Constitution) Deputy ministers Lynne Neagle (Mental Health and Wellbeing) Julie Morgan (Social Services) Dawn Bowden (Arts, Sport and Tourism) Lee Waters (Climate Change) Hannah Blythyn (Social Partnership) Politics Wales

v t e Members of the Senedd 2021–2026 6th Senedd Labour (29-30) Mick Antoniw Hannah Blythyn Dawn Bowden Jayne Bryant Hefin David (died Aug 2025) Alun Davies Mark Drakeford († till Mar 2024) Rebecca Evans Vaughan Gething († Mar-Jul 2024) John Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Mike Hedges Vikki Howells Jane Hutt Huw Irranca-Davies Julie James Jeremy Miles Eluned MorganR† († since Jul 2024) Julie Morgan Sarah Murphy Lynne Neagle Rhianon Passmore Jenny Rathbone David Rees Jack Sargeant Ken Skates Carolyn ThomasR Lee Waters Joyce WatsonR Buffy Williams Conservatives (14-16) Natasha AsgharR Andrew RT DaviesR († till Dec 2024) Paul Davies Gareth Davies James Evans ( –Jan 2026) Janet Finch-Saunders Peter Fox Russell George ( –Apr 2025) Tom GiffardR Altaf HussainR Mark IsherwoodR Joel JamesR Laura Anne JonesR ( –Jul 2025) Samuel Kurtz Darren Millar † († since Dec 2024) Sam RowlandsR Plaid Cymru (12-13) Rhys ab OwenR ( –Nov 2022) Cefin CampbellR Luke FletcherR Heledd FychanR Llŷr Huws GruffyddR Peredur Owen GriffithsR Mabon ap Gwynfor Siân Gwenllian Rhun ap Iorwerth † († since June 2023) Delyth JewellR Elin Jones Adam Price († till May 2023) Lindsay Whittle (since Oct 2025) Sioned WilliamsR Liberal Democrats (1) Jane DoddsR† Reform (0-2) James Evans (Jan 2026– ) Laura Anne JonesR (Jul 2025– ) Independent (0-1) Rhys ab OwenR (Nov 2022– ) Russell George (Apr 2025– ) Llywydd (presiding officer): Elin Jones † = Party leaders R = Regional MS

v t e Members of the National Assembly for Wales / Senedd 2016–2021 5th Assembly Labour (28/29) Mick Antoniw Hannah Blythyn Dawn Bowden Jayne Bryant Hefin David Alun Davies (–Jan 2021, Feb 2021–)××× Mark Drakeford † Rebecca Evans Vaughan Gething John Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Mike Hedges Vikki Howells Jane Hutt Huw Irranca-Davies Julie James Ann Jones Carwyn Jones († till Dec 2018) Jeremy Miles Eluned MorganR Julie Morgan Lynne Neagle Rhianon Passmore Jenny Rathbone David Rees Carl Sargeant (died Nov 2017) Jack Sargeant (Feb 2018–) Ken Skates Lee Waters Joyce WatsonR Conservatives (12-10) Mohammad AsgharR (died Jun 2020) Angela Burns Andrew RT DaviesR † († till June 2018, Jan 2021–) Paul Davies († Sept 2018–Jan 2021) Suzy DaviesR Janet Finch-Saunders Russell George Mark IsherwoodR Laura Anne JonesR (Jul 2020–) David MeldingR Darren Millar Nick Ramsay (–Dec 2019, Feb 2020–)×× Mark RecklessR (Apr 2017–May 2019)× Plaid Cymru (12-10) Dafydd Elis-Thomas (–Oct 2016) Llyr GruffyddR Siân Gwenllian Rhun ap Iorwerth Delyth JewellR (Jan 2019– ) Elin Jones Helen Mary Jones (Aug 2018– ) Steffan LewisR (died Jan 2019) David LloydR Neil McEvoyR (–Jan 2018) Adam Price † Bethan SayedR Simon ThomasR (–Jul 2018) Leanne Wood († till Sept 2018) UKIP (1-7) Gareth BennettR (–Nov 2019, † Oct 2018–May 2019) Michelle BrownR (–March 2019) Nathan GillR (–Sep 2016) Neil HamiltonR († till May 2018) Caroline JonesR (–May 2019, † May–Oct 2018) Mandy Jones (Dec 2017) Mark RecklessR (–Apr 2017) David RowlandsR (–May 2019) Brexit Party (0-4) Caroline JonesR (May 2019–Aug 2020) Mandy Jones (May 2019–Oct 2020) Mark RecklessR (May 2019–) David RowlandsR (May 2019–Oct 2020) Independent Alliance for Reform (0-3) Mandy Jones (Oct 2020–) Caroline JonesR (Oct 2020–) David RowlandsR (Oct 2020–) Liberal Democrats (1) Kirsty Williams Welsh National Party/Propel (0-1) Neil McEvoyR (Jan 2020–) Independent (0-4) Gareth BennettR (Nov 2019– ) Michelle BrownR (March 2019–) Alun Davies (Jan–Feb 2021) Dafydd Elis-Thomas (Oct 2016– ) Nathan GillR (Sep 2016–Dec 2017) Caroline JonesR (Aug 2020–Oct 2020) Mandy Jones (Jan 2018–May 2019) Neil McEvoyR (Jan 2018–Jan 2020) Nick Ramsay (Jan 2020–Feb 2020) Presiding Officer: Elin Jones † = Party leaders. R = Regional MS × Member of the Conservative group but not party ×× Suspended from Conservative group 2 Jan 2020 to 13 Feb 2020 ××× Suspended from Labour group 19 Jan - 23 Feb 2021

v t e Members of the National Assembly for Wales 2011–2016 4th Assembly Labour (30) Leighton Andrews Mick Antoniw (Rosemary Butler) Christine Chapman Jeffrey Cuthbert Alun Davies Keith Davies Mark Drakeford Carwyn Jones † Rebecca Evans Vaughan Gething Janice Gregory John Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Edwina Hart Mike Hedges Jane Hutt Julie James Ann Jones Huw Lewis Sandy Mewies Julie Morgan Lynne Neagle Gwyn R Price Jenny Rathbone David Rees Carl Sargeant Ken Skates Gwenda Thomas Joyce Watson Conservatives (14) Mohammad Asghar Angela Burns Andrew RT Davies † Byron Davies (until May 2015) Paul Davies Suzy Davies Janet Finch-Saunders Russell George William Graham Janet Haworth (from May 2015) Altaf Hussain (from May 2015) Mark Isherwood David Melding Darren Millar Nick Ramsay Antoinette Sandbach (until May 2015) Plaid Cymru (11) Jocelyn Davies Llyr Gruffydd Bethan Jenkins Alun Ffred Jones Elin Jones Ieuan Wyn Jones † (leader until 2012/AM until June 2013) Rhodri Glyn Thomas Leanne Wood † (leader from March 2012) Rhun ap Iorwerth (from Aug 2013) Simon Thomas Lindsay Whittle Liberal Democrats (5) Peter Black Eluned Parrott William Powell Aled Roberts Kirsty Williams † Presiding Officer: Rosemary Butler † = Party leaders

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lesley Griffiths](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesley_Griffiths) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesley_Griffiths?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.